Bill > S4616

This bill requires acute care general hospitals in New Jersey to perform psychological and psychiatric evaluations on patients being treated for drug overdoses before releasing them from the hospital. The bill mandates that various types of health insurance carriers, including hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health service corporations, individual and group health insurance policies, individual and small employer health benefits plans, health maintenance organizations, and state health benefits programs (such as the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program), must provide coverage for these evaluations. The evaluations must be covered to the same extent as any other medical condition under the insurance contract. The bill will take effect seven months after enactment and will apply to all health benefits plans delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in New Jersey during that time. The Commissioner of Health is required to adopt rules and regulations to implement this requirement, ensuring that hospitals conduct these critical mental health assessments for patients who have experienced a drug overdose.

Health and Social Services

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S4616